Well flowing means



Jan. 25, 1944. R. G. TAYLOR, JR., ETAL 2,340,028

WELL FLOWING MEANS Filed Jan. 22, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet l BY RAY/Mama 6.[m 0/9,

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Jan. 25, 1944. R. e. TAYLOR, JR., ETAL 2,340,028

WELL FLOWING MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1942 INVENTOR.RAY/140M) 6. 721mm. JP.

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Patented'Jan. 25, 1944 WELL FLOWING MEANS Raymond G. Taylor, Jr., andEdgar D.

Wilde,

Dallas..Tex.. assignors to The Guiberson Corporation, Dallas. Tex., acorporation or Delaware Application January 22, 1942, Serial No. 427,704

9 Claims.

This application is a continuation, in part, of the application filed bythe applicants on December 6, 1941, in the United States Patent Omce forWell flowing means, Serial No. 421,890.

In the said application 421,890 there was described a means whereby oilin the casing could be initially unloaded by passing compressed gasesinto the tubing from the surface of the ground with means to pass thiscompressed gas from the tubing into the casing and thereby unload it.There was also shown a wire line valve below the above mentioned means,and after the oil in the casing had been unloaded, the compressed gascould be conducted into the casing, and when the wire line valve wasopen, the compressed gas would pass from the casing into the tubing tolift the oil in the tubing to the surface. However, in unloading the oilin the casing, some oi it would adhere to the casing and would graduallydrain back into the lower portion 01 the casing and might cover the wireline valve to a considerable depth. One of the objects of this inventionis to provide a conductor extending upwardly in the casing from the wireline valve to. a height above the level which would be reached by theoil in the casing after it drains back after the major portion of theoil therein has been unloaded.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved wire lineoperated valve.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in thedetailed specification and claims which follow. The invention may bebetter understood by referring to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross sectionshowing the upper portion of a well with the surface connections;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 of the parts below Figure 1,Figure 2 being a continuation of the lower portion of Figure 1;

' Figure 3 is a transverse view, partlyv in cross section and partly inelevation, of the parts below Figure 2, Figure 3 being a continuation ofthe lower portion of Figure 2 and showing the parts at the bottom of thewell;

Figure 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of one of the check valves,the movable part of the valve being shown in elevation;

Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the wire line alve shown in Figure 3,certain of the parts being shown in cross section, and the remainingparts being shown in elevation; and

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5, exceptthat the movable valve member is shown as a plan view.

Referring to the drawings in detail, a pressure fluid supply pipe Iextends to a T 2 from whence a pipe 3 extends to the casing 8, therebeing a shut-off valve 1 interposed in the pipe 3.

Also, extending from-the T 2 is a pipe 4 leading to the tubing 5, therebeing a shut-ofi valve 6 interposed in the pipe 4. An eduction pipeprovided with a valve l2 extends from the casing 8 to a T M. An eductionpipe 9 extends from the flow line 5 to the T M, said eduction pipe 9being provided with a shut-oil valve Ill. The T 4 is connected to a pipel3 leading to a fluid reservoir (not shown) where the oil would bestored.

At spaced points in the tubing 5 are check valves l5, one of these checkvalves being shown in detail in Figure 4. An elbow nipple I6 is attachedto the tubing so that the hollow portion of the nipple communicates witha hole in the tubing. Secured to the upper end of the nipple I6 is aconnection l8, and its upper end is provided with a valve seat 22. Thehousing l5 of the check valves is secured to the upper end of theconnection l8 and is provided with radially extending ports 20. A lug2'! is provided above each of the valves to prevent-the valves beingknocked ofi when the tubing is pulled from the well. The housing I5 ishollow providing a chamber I9 in which a valve plunger is movable, thelower end of the plunger 2| being tapered, forming a valve to seatagainst the valve seat 22. The members l6 and I8 are hollow so as toform a passageway from the ports 20 to the hole when the valve plunger2| is raised from the seat 22. The upper portion of the chamber I9 isclosed by a plug 25, which is provided with a radially extending port 26communicating with a downwardly extending channel 26', which extendsfrom the port 26 to the chamber l9.

If oil should be standing in the casing above the check valves, and ifthe valves l2 and 6 were opened and the valves 1 and I0 were closed,compressed gas from the pipe I could pass downwardly through the tubingand into the casing, thence through the hole IT in the tubing andupwardly through the hollow portions of the elbow l6 and connection I8,raising the valve plunger 2| and allowing the compressed gas to passoutwardly through the ports 20 into the oil in the casing where it wouldbe raised into the the pipe II and would flow to the reservoir throughthe pipe l3. This would unload the oil in the casing.

Below the check valves and secured to the tubing is a wire line valve 29including a housing 30, and below the housing the tubing 5 continuesdownwardly. The valve housing is provided with a bore 3| communicatingwith the interior of the tubing. Projecting into the bore is a valve 32which slides in valve guide 33. The valve is provided with a flaringvalve portion 34, which is urged towards the seat 15 by means of thespring 31, which extends between the valve portion 34 and the cap 34.This cap 38 may be provided with holes-14 for a spanner wrench, so

that the same may be easily inserted or removed. Between the cap 38 andthe outer portion oi the valve guide 33 is a recess 35, whichcommunicates with a bore 4| in the valve housing 30, which in turncommunicates with an upwardly extending pipe 52, which is held to thetubing by means of clamps 53. The pipe 52 extends upwardly a suflicientdistance so that after the well casing is unloaded, any oil which clingsto the casing or which may not be ejected will not form a level abovethe upper end of the open pipe 52, the object being that when compressedair is later introduced into the casing, as will hereinaiter bedescribed, this compressed air can pass directly into the upper end ofthe pipe 52 and downwardly therethrough without having to break througha column of oil.

The'valve 32 is provided with a tappet 38, the inner portion, or thepart which extends within the chamber 3|, being substantiallyhemispherical. The part of the valve 32 between the tappet 38 and theflaring valve' portion 34 is of reduced size, so as to leave a chamber13 between this reduced portion and the valve guide 33. The valve guide33 is also provided with ports 12 communicating with the chamber 13 andwith a recess 42 in the valve housing which, in turn, communicates witha downwardly extending passageway 43 leading to a pipe 44, whichcommunicates with a passageway 46 in a packer head 45 which carries apacker 28 to seal the space between the packer head and the casing 8.The lower end of the tubing also is screwed into the upper centralportion of the packer head 45,-so that the packer 28 and packer head 45prevent oil from passing upwardly from the sands to the space betweenthe tubing and casing, and likewise prevents compressed air, which maybe introduced into the casing, from exerting its pressure downwardly onthe oil at the bottom of the well and below the packer 28. The packerhead 45 is provided with a chamber 41 which communicates with thepassageway 46. An enlarged case 48 is screwed to the lower end of thepacker head 45 and it interior communicates with the chamber 41, theinterior of the case 48 forming a chamber 48. The lower end of the case48 is: provided with the usual standing valve 58 and fluid inlets 5|.

A wire line passes downwardly through the a tubing and carries at itslower end a weight 39,

preferably having its upper end cone-shaped and adapted to actuate thetappet 38 of the wire line valve and to press it outwardly against thetension of the spring 31 when the wire line is raised by any suitablemechanism above the ground. A stop 55, preferably in the form of agrate, is positioned in the lower portion of the tubing and at adistance below the wire line valve 29 slightly in excess of theeffective length of the weight 39. The spaces between the grating allowthe oil to pass upwardly into the tubing. The object of the stop is toeliminate the necessity of a wire line meter. The weight 39 can belowered in the well until its downward travel is stopped by the stop 55,and the operator thenknows that it is necessary for the weight to belifted only a short distance in order to open the Wire line valve.

After the oil in the casing has been unloaded, as above described, oilwill pass upwardly through the standing valve into the chamber 49 andinto the lower end of the tubing, where it will rise to a certainstanding level, there being no oil in ber into the tubing, a pipeextending from said the casing above the upper end of the pipe 42. I!now the valves I and ID are opened and the valves 8 and I! are closed,compressed gas will pass from the pipe I into the casing, and downwardlythrough the pipe 52 to the outer portion of the flaring valve portion34, where it will be stopped when the valve is seated. or is in theposition shown in Figures 3, 5 and 6. If, however, the wire line beraised so that the tappet 38 is pressed outwardl the flaring valveportion 34 would be moved away from its seat 15, and the compressed gaspassing downwardly through the pipe 52 and passageway 4| will passaround the wire line valve through the ports 12, recess 42, passageway43, pipe 44, passageway 46, chamber 41 and into the chamber 49. It willthen pass downwardly around the lower end of the tubing and upwardlythrough the stop 55 to aerate the oil in the tubing and cause it to beelected upwardly through the tubing to the eductlon pipe 3 and to thefluid reservoir through the pipe l3. As soon as the weight is lowered,the spring 31 causes the wire line valve to close and the abovedescribed passage of the compressed air is stopped. Any air which may betrapped in the chamber 49 or in the passageways between said chamber andthe wire line valve can now bleed oil? into the tubing through thechamber 13 and bleeder port 54.

As will be noted from inspecting Figure 3, the bore 3| is offset fromthe passageway through the tubing 5 so that the weight will be forcedinto contact with the tappet 38 while providing ample space for theupper passage therethrough of any fluid such as oil or gas.

In this specification and claims forming a part thereof, a wire linevalve is intended to cover a valve operated by a weight on a wire lineand is not intended to cover a valve supported by and bodily movableupwardlyand downwardly with the upward and downward movement of the wireline.

We realize that many changes may be made in the form of invention as isdescribed by way of illustration herein without departing from thespirit of the invention. We, therefore, desire to claim the samebroadly, except as we may limit ourselves in the appended claims.

Having now described our invention, w claim:

1. In combination with a casing and a tubing having a chambertherebetween, a valve leading from the tubing into said chamber, meanswhereby compressed gas may be admitted into said tubing and through saidvalve to unload the oil in said chamber, a second valve in said tubingbelow said flrst valve and leading from the chamsecond valve to a pointin said chamber above the oil level which may be formed by oil which maynot have been ejected from the casing when unloading, and means wherebycompressed gas may be admitted into the casing and downwardly throughsaid pipe to said second valve and through said second valve when openedinto the ber into the tubing, a pipe extending from said second valve toa point in said chamber above the oil level which may be formed by oilwhich may not have been ejected from the casing when unloading, andmeans whereby compressed gas may be admitted into the casing anddownwardly through said pipe to said second valve and through saidsecond valve when opened into the tubing to expel the oil therefrom, andmeans to control said second valve.

3. In combination with a casing and a tubing having a chambertherebetween, a valve leading from the tubing into said chamber, meanswhereby compressed gas may be admitted into said tubing and through saidvalve to unload the oil in said chamber, a wire line operated valve in'said tubing below said first valve and leading from the chamber into thetubing, a pipe extending from said wire line valve to a point in saidchamber above the oil level which may be formed by oil which may nothave been ejected from the casing when unloading, and means wherebycompressed gas may be admitted into the casing and downwardly throughsaid pipe to said wire line operated valve and through said wire lineoperated valve when opened into the tubing to expel the oil therefrom.

4. In combination with a flow line and a casing having a compressed gaschamber therebetween, a check valve on the flow line to prevent passageof compressed gas from the chamber into the flow line while allowing gasor onto flow therethrough from the flow line to the chamber and to beejected therefrom by the gas introduced into the chamber, a wire linevalve on the flow line below the check valve and serving as a means tointermit through the flow line, and a conduit extending from the wireline valve and opening into the chamber at a point above the oil levelwhich may be formed in the chamber by oil which may drain back into thelower portion of the chamber after the bulk of said oil has beenejected.

5. In combination with a flow line and a casing having a compressed gaschamber therebetween, a check valve on the flow line to prevent passageof compressed gas from the chamber into the flow line while allowing gasor oil to flow therethrough from the flow line to the chamber and to beeJected therefrom by the gas introduced into the chamber, a wire linevalve on the flow line below the check valve and serving as a means tointermit through the flow line, and a conduit extending from the wireline valve and opening into thechamber at a point above the position ofthe check valve.

6. In combination with a flow line and a casing with a chambertherebetween, means to admit pressure gas into the flow line, a checkvalve in said new line throughwhich oil in the flow line y be forcedfrom the flow line into the chamber by the pressure gas in the flow lineand when the oil level in the flow line has been reduced to the level ofsaid check valve, said pressure gas will Pass from said flow line intothe chamber to expel the oil in said chamber above the check valve. asecond valve in the flow line below the check valve, means to admitpressure gas into the chamber and cut of! the pressure 8 8 to the flowline, means to operate said second valve to admit gas from the chamberinto the flow line, and a conduit extending trom the second valve andopening into the chamber at a point above said check valve.

7. In combination with a flow line and a tubin with a compressed gaschamber therebetween, a check valve in said flow line through which oilin the flow line may be forced from the flow line into the chamber bythe pressure gas in the flow line and when the oil level in the flowline has been reduced to the level of said check valve, said pressuregas will pass from said flow line into the chamber to expel the oil insaid chamber above the check valve, a wire line valve extending into theflow line and serving as a means to introduce compressed gas from thechamber into the flow line when the wire line valve is open, areciprocatable wire line, means on said wire line to engage that part ofthe wire line valve extending into the flow line to open said wire linevalve,

and a conduit extending from said wire line valve and opening into saidchamber at a point above said check valve so as to provide a passagethrough any liquid which may be in the lower portion of the chamber.

8. In combination with a flow line and a tubing with a compressed gaschamber therebetween, a valvemember having a knob extending into theflow line and a valve spaced therefrom and having a reduced shankconnecting said knob and valve, a housing for said valve and providedwith a valve seat for said valve, said housing providing a valve chamberbetween the shank and the housing, a passageway leading from the saidvalve chamber to the flow line, a passageway from the valve chamber tothe compressed gas chamber which passageway is opened or closed by saidvalve, a-wire line, means on said wire line to open said valve andthereby permit the'gas in the compressed gas chamber to pass through thepassageway from the compressed gas chamber to the valve chamber andthence to the passageway leading to the flow line, and a spring to closesaid valve when the wire line is operated to remove the said means fromcontact with the said knob, and a by-pass leading from the chamber intothe tubing when the valve is closed so that any compressed gas trappedin the passageway between the valve chamber and the flow line may bleedoil into the tubing, said knob serving as a means toclose said by-passwhen the valve is open.

9. A valve assembly including a housing having a valve chamber therein,said housing being provided with a valve seat at one end of saidchamber, a valve member slidable in said valve chamber, said valvemember comprising a valve. a knob and a shank connecting the valve andknob, passageways leading to and from said valve chamber, a springtending to hold said valve on its valve seat to close said passagewayleading to the valve chamber, said knob serving as a means to operatesaid valve and open said passageway leading to the valve chamber 50 thatthe fluid may now from the passageway leading to the valve chamber andthrough the said chamber to the passageway leading from the valvechamber, said housing being provided with a bleeder- RAYMOND G. TAYLOR,JR. EDGAR D. WILDE.

